I have been a business education and technology teacher in Burnaby BC since 2007. I have had the opportunity to teach both junior and senior high school classes, adult learners through Burnaby’s community and continuing education and online. I have taught a wide variety of courses including business computer applications, information communication technology, marketing, accounting, economics and entrepreneurship. Outside of teaching I work part time as the corporate secretary for a publicly traded junior oil and gas company where I am responsible for shareholder communications and corporate governance.  Having experience both in the classroom and in the business world one of my main goals as an educator is to teach my students skills that they can apply in the business world. I find that many business functions are moving online as new technologies allow for easy communication; and so in embracing this concept I joined the MET program to learn more about how to create a hybrid learning environment for my students where face to face instruction is combined with online learning.  Research points to that online learning can be very engaging for today’s 21st century students. Friedman and Friedman (2011) suggest that online courses can increase student engagement as a number of interactive tools can be used to teach subjects including videos, blogs, animations and websites and Rotem and Oster-Levinz (2007) describe if teachers want to engage the NetGen part of the learning process needs to take place online.

I signed up for ETEC 565A as the course overview described how students would be exposed to a range of learning technologies, platforms, web-publications, course management systems and communication tools. I feel that these are all areas where I need more experience if I am going to be successful in creating a hybrid learning environment for my students. I specifically would like to learn more about setting up an online learning environment using a course management system. Having taught one online course I have some experience using Moodle but would like to see what other options are available or learn more about some of the features built into Moodle. I have noticed that some teachers in my district are creating class websites or blogs where students can go to discuss course material or access readings and handouts. If this is the route I decide to go I would like to explore what free options are available in this regard. Additionally, I would hope to learn more about how to select and present engaging digital tools to my classes. With regards to guestimating resources and timeframes I think I will start by completing a Google search for information on course management systems and if I am successful in this regards I will see if I can find any Youtube tutorials to view with the goal of creating and implementing a hybrid learning environment for my senior business education classes by the Fall of 2013.

Friedman, H., & Friedman, L. (2011) Crises In Education: Online learning as a solution. Creative Education, 2011(1), 156-163. Retrieved Sept 11, 2012 from http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=6805

 Rotem, A., & Oster-Levinz, A., (2007) The school website as a virtual learning environment. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology (6). Retrieved Sept 12, 2012 from http://www.tojet.net/articles/v6i3/6314.pdf